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How a sales representative (services) can use AI, task by task

O*NET 41-3091.00: Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelMedian pay $69,990/year (BLS, May 2025)15 tasksJob Zone 2: Some preparation

Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.

Type your own title and every prompt on this page updates to match. Also called: National Sales Executive, Sales Representative (Sales Rep).

Where AI fits in this job

AI-ready 26%AI-assist 70%Stays human 4%

Share of the job's tasks, weighted by how important and how frequent each task is (O*NET ratings). 4 AI-ready, 10 AI-assist and 1 human-led tasks out of 15. This measures where AI can help, not whether the job will disappear.

Information & paperwork
Thinking & planning
People & communication
Leading & teaching
Hands-on & physical

Shape of the job: importance of each kind of work activity (O*NET, 1 to 5).

🗓 Start here on Monday

The most frequent, most important tasks where AI can help right away.

  1. Answer customers' questions about services, prices, availability, or credit terms.Answer questions · Daily
  2. Contact prospective or existing customers to discuss how services can meet their needs.Sell & persuade · Daily
  3. Maintain customer records using automated systems.Write it up · Daily

💪 Lean into these

Core tasks that stay human. These skills get more valuable as the routine work gets automated.

  1. Distribute promotional materials at meetings, conferences, or trade shows.Be there for people · Monthly

Skills to build & where you could move ↓

🔒 Many of these tasks involve people's information. Remove names and identifying details before using AI, or use only a tool your employer has approved.

AI can draft these 4

AI produces a usable first pass. You review it, fix it and own it.

Maintain customer records using automated systems.

Daily

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to maintain customer records using automated systems.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Accounts: [describe]
Updates: [paste]

Draft entries. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Customer account records

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you maintain customer records (today). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Accounts] and [Updates] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check every fact, name and number against your source before it goes anywhere.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Maintain records of customer accounts..

Create forms or agreements to complete sales.

Weekly

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to create forms or agreements to complete sales.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Deal: [booking, rental, sale]
Terms: [parties' roles, price, dates, payment, cancellation]

Draft a clear contract with standard sections and blanks to fill. Flag clauses that need legal review.

10-minute exercise: Contract draft

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you create forms or agreements (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Deal] and [Terms] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Have anything unusual reviewed by a lawyer before signing.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Prepare sales or other contracts..

Develop sales presentations or proposals to explain service specifications.

Weekly

AI generates ideas and first drafts to choose from.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 35% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

AI is a brainstorming partner and first-draft machine for copy, concepts and variations. Your taste and judgment pick the winner.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to develop sales presentations or proposals to explain service specifications.

Context: We use JamBoard and HubSpot software; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Client and product: [who, what]
Format: [deck, sample ad, proposal]

Draft a presentation outline, sample ad copy and recommended sizes or formats. Give 10 quite different options from safe to bold, then develop the best 2.

10-minute exercise: Sales presentation content

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you develop sales presentations or proposals (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Client and product] and [Format] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Tailor it with what you know about the client.

Check the usage rules for AI images and text in your field, and make sure the final work is original.

Importance 4.3/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Develop content for sales presentations or other materials..

Monitor market conditions, innovations, and competitors' services, prices, and sales.

Weekly

AI maps out the topic and options; confirm with real sources.

Show prompt & steps

AI is a fast research assistant. Ask it to map out a topic, compare options or list what to check. Use a tool with web search and ask for its sources.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to monitor market conditions, innovations, and competitors' services, prices, and sales.

Context: We use IBM SPSS Statistics and HubSpot software; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Market: [industry, products, region]
What I need: [demand, prices, competitors]

Summarize recent trends, signals to watch, and reliable sources to track monthly. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

10-minute exercise: Market watch brief

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you monitor market conditions, innovations and competitors' services (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Market] and [What I need] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Run it with a web-search AI tool.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 3.6/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Monitor market conditions or trends.. Also involves: Study product information to acquire professional knowledge..

AI can help you prep these 10

AI speeds up the prep, drafting or thinking. The core of the task is still yours.

Answer customers' questions about services, prices, availability, or credit terms.

Daily

AI builds you an answer bank; exceptions and the human touch are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 53% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Build a personal answer bank with AI for the questions you get every day. In the moment, the human touch and the judgment about exceptions are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to answer customers' questions about services, prices, availability, or credit terms.

Context: We use Salesforce software; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Product or service: [insurance, publication]
Questions: [list]

Write clear answers. Keep answers to 2-3 sentences and flag any that depend on the situation.

10-minute exercise: Product question answers

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you answer customers' questions about services, prices and availability (today). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Product or service] and [Questions] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Save the answers you'd actually use and tweak each one the first time you send it.

Don't paste customers' personal details into AI tools. Describe the situation instead.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Answer customer questions about goods or services..

Contact prospective or existing customers to discuss how services can meet their needs.

Daily

AI preps talking points and practice; the relationship is yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 72% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

AI preps you: talking points, objection handling, tailored outreach and negotiation scenarios. The relationship and reading the room are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to contact prospective or existing customers to discuss how services can meet their needs.

Context: We use Salesforce software and HubSpot software; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Offer: [service]
Prospects: [type]

Draft an outreach message and call script. Keep claims honest, list likely objections with responses, and role-play the other side so I can practice.

10-minute exercise: Prospecting outreach

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you contact prospective or existing customers (today). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Offer] and [Prospects] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Ask for feedback on your answers and write down your best line for the real conversation.

Make sure every claim AI writes about your product is true and allowed. Over-promising is on you.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Contact current or potential customers to promote products or services..

Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and provide ongoing support.

Daily

AI builds you an answer bank; exceptions and the human touch are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 62% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Build a personal answer bank with AI for the questions you get every day. In the moment, the human touch and the judgment about exceptions are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and provide ongoing support.

Context: We use Salesforce software and HubSpot software; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Product or service: [describe]
Common questions: [list]

Write follow-up advice and tips. Keep answers to 2-3 sentences and flag any that depend on the situation.

10-minute exercise: Usage advice

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you consult with clients (today). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Product or service] and [Common questions] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Save the answers you'd actually use and tweak each one the first time you send it. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Don't paste customers' personal details into AI tools. Describe the situation instead.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Advise customers on the use of products or services..

Quote prices, credit terms, contract terms, or fulfillment dates for services.

Weekly

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 38% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to quote prices, credit terms, contract terms, or fulfillment dates for services.

Context: We use IBM SPSS Statistics and Microsoft Excel; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Sale: [trade-in, materials needed, terms]
Inputs: [measurements, prices, condition]

Calculate quantities and price with formulas and a quote summary. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Sales quote calculation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you quote prices and credit terms (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Sale] and [Inputs] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest. Recompute every total yourself.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Estimate costs or terms of sales..

Emphasize or recommend service features based on knowledge of customers' needs and vendor capabilities and limitations.

Weekly

AI builds you an answer bank; exceptions and the human touch are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 42% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Build a personal answer bank with AI for the questions you get every day. In the moment, the human touch and the judgment about exceptions are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to emphasize or recommend service features based on knowledge of customers' needs and vendor capabilities and limitations.

Context: We use Salesforce software; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Customer needs: [describe]
Options: [products, treatments]

Write honest recommendations with pros and cons. Keep answers to 2-3 sentences and flag any that depend on the situation.

10-minute exercise: Recommendations

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you emphasize or recommend service features based (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Customer needs] and [Options] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Save the answers you'd actually use and tweak each one the first time you send it.

Don't paste customers' personal details into AI tools. Describe the situation instead.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Recommend products or services to customers.. Also involves: Explain technical product or service information to customers..

Identify prospective customers using business directories, leads from clients, or information from conferences or trade shows.

Weekly

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to identify prospective customers using business directories, leads from clients, or information from conferences or trade shows.

Context: We use IBM SPSS Statistics and Microsoft Excel; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Offer: [product, fund, service]
Ideal customer: [traits]
Data: [paste leads or market info]

Score and rank prospects, and suggest where to find more. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Prospect list

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you identify prospective customers (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Offer], [Ideal customer] and [Data] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Identify potential customers..

Inform customers of contracts or other information pertaining to purchased services.

Weekly

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 33% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to inform customers of contracts or other information pertaining to purchased services.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Issue: [market, operations, policy]
Audience: [groups, dealers]

Write advice with reasons. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Business advice

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you inform customers of contracts or other information (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Issue] and [Audience] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check every answer is right for your workplace before you share it. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Advise others on business or operational matters..

Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.

Weekly

AI preps talking points and practice; the relationship is yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI preps you: talking points, objection handling, tailored outreach and negotiation scenarios. The relationship and reading the room are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.

Context: We use HubSpot software and Salesforce software; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Deal: [contract, trade]
Target: [price]

Prepare and role-play. Keep claims honest, list likely objections with responses, and role-play the other side so I can practice.

10-minute exercise: Price negotiation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Deal] and [Target] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Ask for feedback on your answers and write down your best line for the real conversation.

Make sure every claim AI writes about your product is true and allowed. Over-promising is on you.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Negotiate prices or other sales terms..

Compute and compare costs of services.

Weekly

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 46% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to compute and compare costs of services.

Context: We use IBM SPSS Statistics and Microsoft Excel; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Transaction: [purchase, rental, admission]
Prices and rules: [rates, discounts, taxes]

Calculate totals with a reusable formula sheet. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Billing calculation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you compute and compare costs of services (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Transaction] and [Prices and rules] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest. Recompute every total yourself.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 3.9/5 · O*NET work activity: Calculate costs of goods or services.. Also involves: Assess the cost effectiveness of products, projects, or services..

Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, regulations, or industry developments.

Weekly

AI gets you up to speed; confirm findings with records or people.

Show prompt & steps

AI can get you up to speed fast and suggest where to look, but you need to confirm findings against real sources, records or people.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, regulations, or industry developments.

Context: We use IBM SPSS Statistics and HubSpot software; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Market: [industry, products, region]
What I need: [demand, prices, competitors]

Summarize recent trends, signals to watch, and reliable sources to track monthly. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

10-minute exercise: Market watch brief

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you attend sales or trade meetings (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Market] and [What I need] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Run it with a web-search AI tool. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 3.7/5 · O*NET work activity: Monitor market conditions or trends.. Also involves: Attend events to develop professional knowledge..

These stay human 1

They need your hands, your presence or your accountable judgment. Lean into them: they get more valuable as routine work is automated.

📏 Measured in this job (O*NET work context): Contact with others: constant contact with others · Face-to-face discussions: once a week or more but not every day · Dealing with the public: very important · Frequency of decisions: once a week or more but not every day

Distribute promotional materials at meetings, conferences, or trade shows.

Monthly

Human connection. Use AI only before and after, to prepare.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: Use AI before and after, not during. Prepare talking points, practise a hard conversation, or turn your notes into a follow-up.

Prep prompt

I work as a sales representative (services). Part of my job is to distribute promotional materials at meetings, conferences, or trade shows.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Samples: [work, artwork]
Recipients: [employers, clients]

Prepare cover notes and follow-up. Then play the recipient. Suggest ways to open, phrases to avoid, and how to handle it if things get tense. Then play the other person so I can practice.

10-minute exercise: Samples outreach

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you distribute promotional materials.
Step 2Fill in [Samples] and [Recipients] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3After the real conversation, write down what worked so you can reuse it.

Importance 3.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Distribute promotional literature or samples to customers..

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Your next moves

Skills to build

From O*NET's ratings of how important each skill is in this job, matched to which part of the work it supports.

With AI Use these to work with AI

When AI does the first draft, these are the skills you use to brief it and check what comes back.

  • Active Listeningimportance 3.9/5
    Used in: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
  • Critical Thinkingimportance 3.4/5
    Used in: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
  • Speakingimportance 3.9/5
    Used in: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
  • Reading Comprehensionimportance 3.6/5
    Used in: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others

Where you could move

Related jobs from O*NET with the closest skill profile, favouring ones where more of the work stays human. No step down in preparation.

Getting into this job

O*NET has not surveyed education and training for this occupation yet.

Software in this job

In-demand tools from O*NET. Many now have AI built in, so check what yours can do before adding a new tool.

Apple macOSHubSpot softwareIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WordSalesforce software

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